Graduation from couch to 5k and my first 5k run!!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

I did it! I ran in my first 5k! from start to finish I ran. I was not the fastest, I was not the slowest, but I ran the whole way. I didn't take one walk break. I came in around 35 minutes.

I have been struggling with knee pain this week so I was really nervous that this might cause trouble. But my knee felt great during the run. Feels really heavy and fatigued before and after (ie now) but I am encouraged that I can keep going with running. I plan to strengthen my legs and stretch more before and after running from now on. Hopefully this will help.

I am really proud of myself. I have been practicing on this course so I knew it was doable..even though the route I had been practicing was a little bit short of what we actually ran today, I did it. I used my trusty head phones and play list to tune out the world and just focus on my breathing. Running by myself is best, since I am slow and my boyfriend who I have been running with runs much faster than I do. I can just focus on me and not worry about him or anything else. Today I felt free to cheer myself on out loud...singing parts of my playlist and pumping my fists when I knew I was going to make it. It was fun to have the race volunteers cheering me and everyone else on along the way. Even got a few hi fives that way..lol

Now my next step.... improve my time on a 5k? Try bridge to 10K? It is hard to imagine that I could run over 6 miles..but then again it was hard for me to imagine I could run 3 about 2.5 months ago...

Whatever the next step, I need to ride this wave of pride, happiness and excitement that I am on after today's race. I did it. I didn't believe I could for a long time. Now I know I can. It is time to keep going!!!!!!